Symphony no. 5 in Cm, Op. 67

The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was finished and first performed in 1808. It achieved fame soon enough, going on to become one of the most popular compositions in classical music. Beethoven was in his mid-thirties: his personal life was troubled by increasing deafness. In the world at large, the period was marked by the Napoleonic Wars. The symphony soon acquired status as a central item in the repertoire: groundbreaking in terms of both technical and emotional impact, it had a large influence on composers and music critics, and ... more

The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was finished and first performed in 1808. It achieved fame soon enough, going on to become one of the most popular compositions in classical music. Beethoven was in his mid-thirties: his personal life was troubled by increasing deafness. In the world at large, the period was marked by the Napoleonic Wars. The symphony soon acquired status as a central item in the repertoire: groundbreaking in terms of both technical and emotional impact, it had a large influence on composers and music critics, and inspired work by such composers as Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Bruckner, Mahler, and Berlioz. The 1st mov. was featured on the Voyager Golden Record.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. The crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in ... more
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. The crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time. Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of the Holy Roman Empire, Beethoven moved to Vienna in his early 20s, studying with Joseph Haydn and quickly gaining a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. His hearing began to deteriorate in the late 1790s, yet he continued to compose, conduct, and perform, even after becoming completely deaf.
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